Does Flushable Mean Septic Safe?

When it comes to going to the bathroom, things can get messy. Especially with children, flushable wipes seem like a great idea. When it comes down to it, however, flushable wipes may end up causing more problems than they actually solve.

Are Flushable Wipes Safe for Septic Systems?

Technically, anything is flushable if the toilet will flush it, but does that mean it should be flushed? Just because a wipe says it is flushable does not mean it is safe to do so. The main issue with flushable wipes is that they do not break down quickly in the septic tank like septic-safe toilet paper and other paper products do.

These wipes may break down with intense movement and effort, but this does not normally happen in the septic tank. Most septic tanks are going to be stagnant, this means that the contents are not going to move around enough to actually break up the wipes when they are deposited there.

Though you can technically flush wipes marketed as flushable, they can still clog up your septic tank and the public sewer system. You can technically flush anything, but that does not mean that you should.

Are Flushable Products Safe for Septic Systems?

If you are looking at it objectively, toilet paper is the only flushable product that is safe for your septic system. As mentioned earlier, these wipes that are marketed as flushable will break down eventually. In the time it takes to break them down, you have likely flushed more and more so that a layer of wipes forms in your septic tank before any of them have the chance to break down.

While the term flushable makes you feel like it is safe to flush them, that does not mean that it is a good idea. Flushable wipes do break down in certain environments, and the problem is that a septic tank is not the ideal environment for this. It is always best to avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper that is meant to be flushed, and that is going to break down before the tank gets overly full and before it causes a problem.

It is always best to avoid flushing anything that might cause problems for your septic tank. If you are experiencing any sort of issues with your septic tank or septic system, it is always best to contact a professional to get the problem taken care of before they cause major damage to your septic system, which can be very expensive to fix.   

Categorised in: Septic System Maintenance